SBIR Phase I: Palatal Device Providing In-situ Sensory Feedback for Patients with Vestibular Imbalance

这个小企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段的项目是开发一种隐藏的、非侵入性的辅助设备，可以为前庭失衡患者提供原位的头部运动感觉反馈。人体感觉运动控制环中前庭反馈的丧失会导致失衡，这显著增加了跌倒的风险，跌倒是老年人死亡的主要原因之一。前庭失衡的患者活动水平降低，这会导致继发性问题，包括肌肉张力丧失、身体力量下降、疲劳和头痛，导致生活显著受损。建议的设备提供替代的感觉反馈到腭面，这一位置已被证明具有高度的触觉敏感性，但尚未探索前庭替代。该项目第一阶段的目标包括：1)开发一种紧凑和节能的电子系统，导致可穿戴的电池供电的平衡设备；2)开发用于表示头部倾斜和运动的方向和范围的最佳电触觉表示方法；以及3)初步评估可穿戴原型，用于人体实验中的替代感觉反馈和平衡辅助。第一阶段项目预计将展示以成本效益为基础的技术，以实现所需尺寸和功能的设备，以及平衡控制设备的可用性。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是改善前庭疾病患者的平衡，由于衰老、疾病、耳毒性和导致前庭器官退化或损坏的手术，前庭疾病在世界各地普遍存在。数据显示，仅在美国，就有数百万美国成年人报告存在平衡问题。目前，还没有实用的设备可用于为前庭缺失患者提供头部运动的原位感觉反馈。拟议的设备以其隐藏和非侵入性的独特功能抓住了这一巨大的市场机会，同时帮助前庭患者在各种室内外活动中保持平衡，如在公园、街道或购物中心散步。它帮助他们在公共场合重新获得信心，并增加他们的社会参与度，这将为他们的健康带来巨大的好处，使他们的日常生活更加愉快。此外，该设备为前庭康复领域的健康专业人员提供了新的机会，在不受控制的环境中进行运动、失衡和治疗的研究。它为神经科学研究人员提供了一种新的工具来研究大脑可塑性和知觉学习的机制，涉及到感觉运动控制环中腭部反馈的使用。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop a hidden and noninvasive assistive device that can provide in-situ sensory feedback of head movement for patients with vestibular imbalance. Loss of vestibular feedback in the sensorimotor control loop of the human body causes imbalance, which significantly increases the risk of falling, one of the leading causes of death in the elderly population. Patients with vestibular imbalance have reduced activity levels, which result in secondary problems including loss of muscle tone, decreased body strength, fatigue, and headache, leading to a significantly impaired life. The proposed device provides alternative sensory feedback to the palatal surface, a site that has been shown to possess high tactile sensitivity, but has not been explored for vestibular substitution. The objectives for Phase I of the project include: 1) development of a compact and energy-efficient electronic system that leads to a wearable battery-powered balance device; 2) development of methods for optimal electrotactile representation of the direction and range of head inclination and motion; and 3) preliminary evaluation of the wearable prototype for alternative sensory feedback and balance assistance in human subject experiments. The Phase I project is anticipated to demonstrate the enabling palate-based technology for cost-effective implementation of the device with desired dimensions and functionality, and the usefulness of the device for balance control.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is the improvement of balance in patients with vestibular disorders, which are prevalent worldwide due to aging, disease, ototoxicity, and surgery that cause degradation or damage of the vestibular apparatus. Data showed that in US alone several millions of American adults reported problem with balance. Currently no practical devices are available to provide in-situ sensory feedback of head movement for patients with vestibular loss. The proposed device captures this great market opportunity with its unique feature of being hidden and noninvasive while assisting vestibular patients in maintaining balance in various indoor and outdoor activities such as walking in a park, street, or shopping mall. It helps them to regain confidence in public settings, and increases their social participation, which will bring enormous benefits to their health and make their daily living more enjoyable. In addition, the device offers fresh opportunities for health professionals in the field of vestibular rehabilitation to conduct research on motion, imbalance, and treatments in uncontrolled settings. It provides a new tool for neuroscience researchers to study mechanisms of brain plasticity and perceptual learning involving use of palatal feedback in the sensorimotor control loop.